Our Far Flung Correspondents (again)
It's been a while - but here I am, right where I need to be - in Paris at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie. After a day of tour guiding "adventures" (including the return of the "Naked Baker" - a story for which the world is not prepared) I thought I would go over to the competition area, check out the day 3 baking and snap some photos. Then rest my tired tootsies and post them to TFL.
This is me, taking photos - which I never do in Paris - not even at my Sunday dinner at a famous landmark - so set expectations accordingly - but here they are for you...
Team Italy - baguette fantasie and other breads
Team Italy - crumb shot
Teanm France - Crumb shot
Team France - Decorative scoring
Team France - Decorative piece
Team South Korea - Decorative piece
Team Taiwan - Decorative piece
Team Peru - Decorative piece
Team USA - Decorative piece
At the Judges Tables
I could go on and on about the nuances of the competition - the fact that Taiwan was the only team the first day to finish on time - that this year Team USA finished on time, also - that the Austrian judge saw both me and the guy standing next to me almost spit out a piece of the bread from Team Taiwan (seaweed in bread - this is a love it or hate it deal - which, in a competition, is always a gamble)- the reaction of Team USA to French flour (they don't much like it) - but you don't want the blow by blow - you want the pictures... and I took all my camera could hold.
Tomorrow we learn the results. Let me tell you, there is some tough competition (the scoring on Team France's breads just kills me...), but I will stay true to my team. Go Team USA!!!!!!!!!!